It originated from the Paratroopers Division formed on 1^st September 1941 in Tarquinia (VT) with the 1^st and the 2^nd Paratroopers Regiments, then accompanied by the 3^rd in March 1942 and the Paratroopers Artillery Regiment. When its employment overseas was necessary as land unit, in July 1942 it was called 185^th "Folgore" Infantry Division. As a consequence its units were called 185^th, 186^th and 187^th "Folgore" Infantry Regiment and 185^th "Folgore" Artillery Regiment. Since 15^th September 1942 the 185^th Infantry has left the "Folgore" and, after having given the 187^th two battalions, it was named the 185^th "Nembo" Regiment becoming the constitutive nucleus of a second Paratroopers Division. The "Folgore" imposed its way of fighting in Northern Africa at the admiration of the enemy and the ally. Exhausted but not defeated in the battle of El Alamein, it was dissolved on 23^rd November 1942.

On 1^st January 1963 the Paratroopers Brigade was formed on the base of a Command, the 1^st Paratroopers Regiment (2^nd and 5^th Battalion), Saboteurs Paratroopers Battalion, Carabinieri Paratroopers Company (Battalion since 15^th July), Paratroopers Artillery Gun Battery (Group since 1^st June) and Paratroopers Training Centre (since 1^st December it has been at the dependencies of the Infantry and Cavalry Inspectorate). Since 10^th June 1967 it reclaimed the name of "Folgore" Paratroopers Brigade.

With the reorganization of the Army, since 1^st October 1975 the personnel of the big unit was modified and the "Folgore" included Command and Signal Unit, 1^st "Tuscania" Paratroopers Carabinieri Battalion, 2^nd "Tarquinia" Paratroopers Battalion, 5^th "El Alamein" Paratroopers Battalion, 9^th "Col Moschin" assault Paratroopers, 3^rd "Poggio Rusco" Paratroopers Battalion, 185^th "Viterbo"  Artillery Paratroopers Group, "Folgore" Logistic Battalion and smaller units. Since January 1983 the Military School of Parachuting was again at the dependencies of the Command Brigade.

On January 1986, along with the "Friuli" Brigade and the units of the Light Aviation of the Army, it became part of the Rapid Reaction Forces that were inter-force units aiming to intervene promptly against threats to the national territory.

Since 31^st May 1991 also the reconstituted 183^rd "Nembo" Paratroopers Battalion was at the dependencies of the Brigade; with a new organization of the Armed Force that restored the regiment level, since 1992 the "Folgore" started to organize its personnel into a Command, 1^st "Tuscania" Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment, 9^th "Col Moschin" assault Paratroopers, 183^rd "Nembo" Paratroopers Regiment, 186^th and 187^th "Folgore" Paratroopers Regiments, 185^th "Folgore" Artillery Paratroopers Regiment.

Part of the Command Projection Forces, since 1^st December 2000 it was at the dependencies of the 1^st Command Defence Forces and assumed in its ranks the 5^th "Bolsena" Engineer Battalion that was then renumbered 8^th "Folgore" Battalion, absorbing the Paratroopers Engineer Company of the Command and Tactical Supports Unit. In March 2001 the Logistic Battalion was transformed into 6^th Manoeuvre​ Regiment, followed by the 26^th Jupiter Regiment deployed in Viterbo. After the Army of Carabinieri became the fourth Armed Force, in 2002 the 1^st "Tuscania" Paratroopers Carabinieri Regiment left the ranks of the Brigade.